A Gwinnett County organization will hold the first of its two "Hazardous Waste Collection Days" of 2023 in February.
The biannual event is a joint effort of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and the county's department of water resources and it encourages county residents to bring hazardous waste materials from their homes to a site where volunteers will collect it to keep it from going into local landfills. Executive Director for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Schelly Marlatt said in a release that the effort has a positive impact on the county's environment.
"When people throw household hazardous materials in the trash, they will wind up in the landfill and could leech into the soil, contaminating groundwater and the environment," Marlatt said. "The dangerous combination of some of those materials during the disposal process could even lead to a chemical reaction resulting in a fire or explosion. It might not seem like it at the moment when our volunteers are collecting items from the trunks and backseats of our attendees’ cars, but we’re saving the planet - one pesticide, paint can and propane cylinder at a time!”
The types of materials collected at the event include:
- Aerosol/spray pesticides
- Automotive products (engine degreaser, brake fluid, transmission fluid, antifreeze, etc.)
- Cleaners, corrosives, spot removers, acids and bases
- Aerosol/spray paint
- Auto batteries
- Batteries (household and rechargeable)
- Chlorinated solvents
- Cooking oil and grease
- Fire extinguishers
- Flammables (lighter fluid and waste fuels (kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel, etc.)
- Fluorescent bulbs and ballasts
- Insecticides
- Latex and water-based paints
- Lawn care products
- Mercury
- Mercury salts and elemental mercury thermometers
- Oil based paint and stains
- Oxidizers
- Pesticides
- Poisons
- Propane cylinders
- Solvents and varnishes
- Thermostats and other mercury containing items
- Thinners and paint strippers
- Weed killer
- Wood preservatives
Officials said in a release that items that will not be collected include ammunition, radioactive waste, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical/biohazard waste.
The event will be held at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds off of Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville on Saturday, February 11 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Marlatt said they're looking for around 50 additional volunteers to help the event go smoothly.
The volunteers would help direct traffic, move materials out of vehicles and break down boxes among other work.
“We only have a four-hour window to collect materials from hundreds of cars, so this is a ‘the more, the merrier’ scenario," Marlatt said. "It’s a great opportunity to spend some time outdoors, meet other people who have a heart for the environment, fulfill volunteer hours for school and club commitments, and do something good for the community."
Those interested in volunteering for the event can sign up here.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2023/2/1165718/gwinnett-organization-to-host-hazardous-waste-collection-day-next-week